Vernon J. "Dutch" Kennedy

Lula and Dutch Kennedy

Photo courtesy of photographer Chuck James

(March 4, 1916 - December 12, 1989)

The Lusk Herald

December 20, 1989

Vernon J. Kennedy

Services for Vernon J. "Dutch" Kennedy, age 73, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Peet Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Scott Grimshaw officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Dell View Cemetery at Manville.

Mr. Kennedy died Tuesday, Dec. 12, 1989, at Dunning, Neb. Dutch (as everyone knew him) was one of five children. His maternal grandparents came from Germany and his paternal grandparents came from Ireland.

Dutch spent most of his childhood in Nebraska. He entered the Army in February of 1942. He served in Europe, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was among the troops at Omaha Beach on D Day in Normandy, France. He served as a tank destroyer driver in the 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion during the war, in support of various Divisions at different times, such as the 29th Div., 82nd Airborne, 101st Airborne, 30th Div., 1st, 4th and 5th Divisions. He was at Caranton Swamps, St. Lo, France. They pushed to the Siegfried Line with the 1st Army. Dutch was then transferred to Patton's 3rd Army. They served at the Hergan Forest, and in the Holding Action at the Battle of the Bulge. Dutch received five major combat stars, was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He lost four tank destroyers in battle and was wounded three times. Dutch served 11 months on the front lines and a total of 3 1/2 years in the Army. He was discharged as a Sergeant.

He married Lula I. Baughn on Aug. 10, 1946, at Hot Springs, S. D. They lived in various parts of Utah, Wyoming and Arizona, where Dutch worked on highway construction, as a carpenter foreman, until 1957, when they bought her grandmother's ranch at Keeline, Wyo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and two brothers.

Survivors include one sister, Beuelah Herbaugh of Hemingford, Neb.; one brother, Kenneth Kennedy of Orange Cale, Calif.; and numerous other relatives and friends.

For those who wish, memorials to the Senior Citizens Center will be appreciated by the family.